LDV’s MIFA 9 electric people mover is about to get a smaller sibling.
The Maxus MIFA 7 – the LDV name isn’t used in China – has appeared on the internet thanks to a filing from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. That indicates an official reveal is imminent.
The people mover has a grille-less front with what appear to be vertically stacked headlights and horizontal LED daytime running lights.
The belt line dips down at the third row, and flush-mounted door handles are fitted.
Down back, there are vertically oriented tail lights plus Maxus lettering across a possibly illuminated bar that runs across the tailgate.
There’s a strong familial resemblance with the larger MIFA 9, but less so with the upcoming V70 people mover revealed last year.
LDV has confirmed it will launch a mid-sized van with both combustion and electric powertrains in the fourth quarter of this year. It’s unclear whether this will simply be a two-seat version of the previously revealed V70 people mover, and whether the van models, V70 and MIFA 7 share a platform.
Whereas the MIFA 9 and its combustion-powered MIFA/G90 sibling share the same wheelbase, the MIFA 7 has a 25mm shorter wheelbase than the V70. It also has unique side detailing, including a different greenhouse and belt line treatment.
The MIFA 7 measures 4907mm long, 1885mm wide and 1756mm tall on a 2975mm wheelbase, with a choice of six- or seven-seat layouts. That makes it incrementally larger than the defunct Honda Odyssey.
That’s 363mm shorter than the MIFA 9 on a 225mm shorter wheelbase, which also makes it slightly shorter overall than the defunct G10 people mover.
The filing notes a 180kW electric motor like the MIFA 9, and a choice of lithium-ion or lithium iron phosphate batteries.
One of these batteries will be able to be replaced with ease, with LDV owner SAIC Motor announcing last year it had partnered with battery firm CATL on battery swapping.
Maxus V70 
LDV MIFA 9
Chinese firms have been leading in this space, with Nio establishing over 1000 battery-swapping stations in China and opening its first 12 in Europe with more to follow. Other automakers like Geely and GAC Aion are also opening stations in their home market.
LDV in Australia has been busy rolling out its first electric vehicles: the aforementioned MIFA 9, plus the full-sized eDeliver 9 van and eT60 ute.
With the company confirming a new electric mid-sized van, which could replace the V80 and the G10 that’s approaching a decade in service, it’s possible LDV may want to introduce a corresponding electric people mover. We’ve contacted the company for comment.
